Effectiveness of alternative parent training formats

Abstract

Alternative formats were compared for training parents of retarded children to teach self-help skills and manage problem behaviors. Sixty-six families with moderately to severely retarded children ages 3-13 were assigned for 3 months to group parent training (n = 37), individual parent training (n = 16), or delayed training control (n = 13). Measures administered before and after training evaluated: (1) parent knowledge of behavior modification, (2) a behavior sample of parent teaching, and (3) child self-help skills and behavior problems. Trained families gained significantly more than control families on parent measures but not on the child self-help skill measure. Group and individually trained families demonstrated almost identical gains. At a 6-month follow-up, group and individually trained families continued to show equal performance. Group training requires about half the professional time per family as individual training, and therefore seems a more cost-effective approach.